More than two months after 14,384 candidates were finalized for assistant teacher posts in government primary schools, their joining process remains stalled, creating uncertainty. The candidates held press conferences demanding immediate announcement of joining dates and submitted memorandums to the Prime Minister through 61 district commissioners. The written exam was held on January 9, 2026, followed by the final results on February 8, and medical and verification processes completed by early March.

Despite completion of all administrative steps, the Directorate of Primary Education has not initiated the joining process, reportedly awaiting instructions from the ministry. Attempts to reach the director general and the state minister for primary and mass education for comments were unsuccessful. A reliable source within the directorate confirmed readiness to proceed once ministry approval is received.

Rumors of a possible review of the recruitment results have heightened anxiety among the selected candidates. They have urged the government to expedite the appointment process, citing prolonged uncertainty and social embarrassment caused by the delay.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of nearly 175,000 metric tons of fuel oil worth Tk 1,698.21 crore to address urgent energy needs arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The approval came on Tuesday during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division submitted the proposals for the imports.

According to the Finance Ministry, the committee approved the purchase of 50,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM diesel and 25,000 metric tons of gasoline 95 unleaded (octane) from DBS Trading House FZCO through direct procurement, costing Tk 1,023.61 crore. Additionally, 100,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM sulfur diesel will be imported from Archer Energy LLC under the same method for Tk 674.60 crore. The ministry noted that fuel import proposals have been approved in almost every recent committee meeting.

The meeting also approved consultancy contracts for Dhaka WASA’s DESWS project and procurement of 30 million new hessian bags for the Food Department through open tendering.

At Chattogram Government City College, violent clashes broke out between members of the student groups Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir on Tuesday following a dispute over graffiti related to the 'July Movement'. Witnesses reported seeing several individuals armed with sharp weapons such as machetes and cleavers running toward a Shibir procession. At least 20 people from both sides were reported injured, and one Shibir activist allegedly suffered a severe leg injury. Police and college authorities intervened to restore order, but renewed clashes occurred during a subsequent Shibir protest.

Video footage circulating online showed masked or helmeted youths wielding weapons and moving rapidly across the campus. However, the administration stated that it could not confirm the attackers’ organizational affiliations from the footage. Local sources said the violence intensified after the graffiti, originally reading “student politics and Chhatra League-free campus,” was altered by Chhatra Dal activists to include the word “Gupta.” The incident spread fear among general students as armed groups appeared across campus.

Police said efforts are underway to identify those involved in the attack.

Local Member of Parliament Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid has called for establishing a full-fledged agricultural university at the Jagadishpur Cotton Research, Training and Seed Multiplication Farm in Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore. He raised the demand during Tuesday’s session of the National Parliament, noting that the farm’s operations have become stagnant due to manpower shortages, mismanagement, and long-term neglect. He argued that setting up a university there would utilize the unused land and open new opportunities for agricultural education in Bangladesh.

The farm, inaugurated on November 19, 1980, by then-President Ziaur Rahman, was established with financial assistance from the Government of Bangladesh and the former European Economic Community. Covering 63.70 hectares, about 14.72 hectares remain unused. The facility currently conducts research in five disciplines and includes residential training facilities for 120 people. Local journalists and agricultural officials believe the existing infrastructure could easily support a university and that the region’s fertile soil and low disaster risk make it ideal for agricultural research.

Officials added that nearby water bodies and fallow land could also support fisheries and livestock research, further expanding the scope of agricultural studies in the area.

Bangladesh emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation at the 82nd session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held in Bangkok from April 21 to 24, 2026. The session, themed “Leaving no one behind: Building an inclusive society for all ages in Asia and the Pacific,” was inaugurated by Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Bangladesh’s delegation was led by Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology.

In his address, the minister highlighted the importance of closer collaboration among regional countries to tackle climate change, global economic pressures, and uncertainty. He stressed that mutual partnerships and coordinated initiatives are essential for achieving sustainable development. The minister also outlined Bangladesh’s priorities, including support for small and medium enterprises, attracting investment, and promoting innovation. He further emphasized skill development, job creation, and increased participation of youth and women in the digital economy.

The session underscored the shared regional commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable progress through cooperation and innovation.

The government has officially changed the name of Shaheed M. Mansur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj to Sirajganj Medical College. The decision was announced on Tuesday through a notification issued by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The order, issued by the authority of the President, states that the new name takes effect immediately.

According to the notification signed by Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, relevant authorities have been instructed to make necessary administrative and academic adjustments following the name change. The directive ensures that all institutional activities align with the new designation.

The renaming marks an official administrative update for the government medical institution in Sirajganj, with immediate implementation across all departments and records.

Fifty nomination papers have been submitted for the 50 reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, meaning the Election Commission (EC) will not need to conduct voting if all candidacies are validated. The announcement came from Joint Secretary and Returning Officer Md. Moin Uddin Khan at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on April 21, 2026. Candidate scrutiny is scheduled for April 22 and 23, with appeals and withdrawals to follow according to the official timetable.

According to Moin Uddin Khan, 36 nominations came from the BNP-led alliance, 13 from the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, and one from an independent candidate. Three additional independent candidates—Shamma Akter, Mosammad Mehrunnesa, and Mahbuba Rahman—also submitted papers. The final verification will determine their eligibility. The reserved women’s seat election is officially set for May 12, 2026.

The Returning Officer added that candidate qualifications and disqualifications are governed by the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which outlines eligibility criteria and restrictions for those holding profit-based public positions.

Two young motorcyclists, Arif Hossain (17) and Sohan Ahmed (18), were killed in a road accident on Tuesday evening in Jhenaidah. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Panchmail area on the Jhenaidah-Magura highway when their motorcycle was struck by a Mahindra three-wheeler and thrown under a moving truck. Both victims died on the spot after being crushed under the truck’s wheels.

Police confirmed the accident and said the victims were returning to Bijoypur village from Jhenaidah town when the collision took place. The officer-in-charge of Jhenaidah Arappur Highway Police, Mrityunjoy Biswas, stated that efforts are underway to identify and detain the truck using information technology. The bodies have been sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to locate the truck and determine the full circumstances of the crash.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday evening granted bail to Youth Mahila League leader Shilpi Begum in an attempted murder case linked to the July movement. The order came just hours after she was sent to jail with her one-and-a-half-month-old baby. The bail was granted by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, and her lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi confirmed the decision, expressing hope that Begum would be released the next day.

Shilpi Begum, affiliated with the 26th ward of Dhaka North Youth Mahila League, had been arrested Monday evening from Tejkunipara Railway Colony. She was accused of directing an attack on the home of Dhaka University student Tahmid Mubin Ratul, who was injured during an anti-discrimination protest on July 16, 2024. The assault allegedly caused property damage worth five lakh taka and theft of goods valued at three lakh taka. The case, filed on January 25 last year, named 103 individuals including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The court had initially denied bail despite her lawyer’s plea citing her recent childbirth, but the decision was reversed later in the day, allowing her conditional release.

Bangladesh Bank has removed Emdadul Islam from his position as Managing Director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited. The central bank also advised the company’s chairman to take necessary measures and appoint an experienced official as acting MD. The decision followed findings that Emdadul Islam concealed key information during his appointment process.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s inspection, while serving as MD of GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Emdadul Islam classified a defaulted loan of Keya Cosmetics as regular without central bank approval, reducing the company’s non-performing loan ratio from 16.04 percent to 8.86 percent. He also restructured loans of subsidiary GSP Investment in violation of central bank directives, leading to a fine of 1 million taka. Additionally, he imposed extra interest on Doreen Hotels and Resorts Limited during the COVID-19 period, ignoring regulatory instructions.

Bangladesh Bank stated that Emdadul Islam failed to disclose these issues in his application and affidavit for the International Leasing MD post, prompting his removal.

A violent clash broke out between activists of the BNP and the NCP in Narayanganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday afternoon over the submission of lease tenders for the Rajapur ferry terminal. The confrontation began at the Sadar Upazila Parishad premises when both groups gathered to submit tenders. Witnesses said the dispute escalated into a chase and counter-chase, spreading panic in the area. Police from Fatullah Model Station arrived quickly and brought the situation under control, though tension remained.

Narayanganj district NCP leaders alleged that BNP activists led by local leaders attacked them without provocation, preventing them from submitting their tenders. They claimed they had followed proper procedures but were targeted by politically motivated violence. In response, BNP’s youth wing leaders denied the allegations, saying they had reached a consensus with NCP and Jamaat leaders earlier and were surprised by the sudden unrest.

Police stated that legal action would be taken against those responsible for obstructing government work and creating disorder, pending investigation.

Md. Sakhawat Hossain, previously Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has been promoted to the position of Secretary of the same ministry. The appointment was confirmed through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday night. The current Secretary of the Ministry, Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, has been transferred to the Ministry of Food.

In the same set of administrative changes, Md. Firoz Sarkar, Secretary of the Ministry of Food, has been reassigned as Secretary of the Statistics and Information Management Division. The official order stated that these transfers and promotions were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

These changes reflect a routine reshuffle within the government’s senior bureaucracy, aimed at ensuring administrative efficiency across key ministries.

An unexploded mortar shell believed to be from Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War was recovered near the gymnasium area of Rajshahi University on Tuesday morning, April 21, 2026. Workers discovered the metallic object during renovation work around 10 a.m. and immediately informed university authorities. The bomb disposal unit of the law enforcement agency later arrived, cordoned off the area, and safely transported the shell to an open field near the university’s mass grave site, where it was neutralized through a controlled explosion.

According to university officials and eyewitnesses, the shell surfaced when workers struck it with a spade while digging. The university’s proctor, Professor Mahbubur Rahman, confirmed the incident and stated that similar old mortar shells had been found in previous excavation or renovation works on campus. Additional Police Commissioner of Rajshahi Motihar Zone, Muhibul Islam, said the operation was conducted with utmost caution to ensure public safety.

Authorities have declared the area safe, and normal activities at the university have resumed following the disposal operation.

The Forest Department recovered 42 deer traps and detained two fishermen during separate operations in the Sundarbans under the Satkhira range. On Tuesday, April 21, patrol members from the Munshiganj outpost conducted a raid in the Belayet’s Bharani and Cherar Khal areas, where they found 42 'mala traps' set to capture deer. Acting on secret information, the team discovered the traps strategically placed to ensnare roaming deer.

A day earlier, on Monday, April 20, a smart patrol team carried out another operation in the Dingi Mari sanctuary area under the Kadamtala Forest Station. Two fishermen were arrested for illegally entering the sanctuary to catch fish and crabs. Authorities seized a boat, about 30 kilograms of crabs, and various fishing tools. The detainees were later sent to court under forest law.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Md. Moshior Rahman stated that operations to prevent illegal hunting and resource extraction in the Sundarbans will continue. Local residents alleged that an organized poaching group remains active, sometimes operating with the support of influential individuals, and urged strict legal action against them.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Rüdiger Lotz paid a courtesy call on Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his parliamentary office in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was attended by the embassy’s Political and Press Officer Sharlina Nuzhat Kabir. According to Jamaat sources, the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere and covered topics including the strengthening of parliamentary democracy, the July Charter, and the referendum.

During the meeting, the German side expressed its interest in seeing good governance and accountability in Bangladesh. Dr. Rahman reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami’s commitment to the July Charter and public mandate, emphasizing the party’s desire for qualitative change and reform to prevent the return of one-party rule. Both sides also discussed the need to reinforce democratic institutions and ensure sustainable democracy in Bangladesh.

The participants expressed optimism about enhancing future bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany in trade, investment, economic collaboration, education, and skills development.